Dilating device



Feb. 7, 1961 J MONTAGUE 2,970,749

DILATING DEVICE Filed Oct. 20, 1958 INVENTOR. Jose 1% 17 Man za yae flea/giddy, Daaels' A? March ATTORNEYS United States Patent 6 DILATING DEVICE Joseph F. Montague, 104, E. 40th St., New York, NY.

Filed Oct. 20, 1958, Set. No. 768,187

8 Claims. (Cl. 230-169) This invention relates to a dilating device and more particularly to a fluid dilating pump for providing a substantially constant and controlled flow of a low pressure compressible fluid.

An object of this invention is to provide a relatively simple, compact, inexpensive device for controlling the flow of a low pressure, compressible fluid to slowly and gently inflate a receiver thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which is particularly adaptable for controlled, gentle inflation of portions of the human membrane as for example the sigmoid colon or other hollow viscera to facilitate examination thereof.-

-The foregoing objects in accordance with this invention are attained by a dilating device comprising a flexible inner bulb surrounded by an outer bag formed of a relatively thin distensible membrane which may stretch when the outer bag is inflated. The inner bulb is provided with co-operating valve means which are rendered operative by flexing the walls of the inner bulb to control the flow of a fluid therethrough. The fluid, on discharging from the inner bulb, is expanded into the outer bag where it accumulates at a relatively lower pressure and is dischargeable therefrom through an orifice at a substantially constant and controllable rate as the outer bag again contracts.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision that the instant device is relatively simple and positive in operation.

Other features and advantages will be apparent when considered in view of the drawings and description in which:

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of the dilator of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the device.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail side view of the flutter valve in the dilator.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail top view of the flutter valve.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail side view of the gate valve in the dilator.

Referring to the drawing, the fluid pump or dilator of the present invention comprises an inner bulb 11 which is illustrated as elliptical in cross-section and is composed of a suitable resilient, flexible material, e.g. rubber or the like. Enclosing the inner bulb 11 is an outer bulb or bag 12 which has one end 13 thereof sealed about the end portion 14 of the inner bulb 11. The other end portion 15 of the outer bag 12 sealed about a discharge conduit or orifice 16 which is spaced from and in alignment with the end 17 of the inner bulb 11.

According to this invention the outer bag 12 is formed of a relatively thin, distensible membrane which may be of rubber or the like. This bag 12 is also illustrated as being generally elliptical in cross-section. However, it is to be understood that the shape and relative sizes of both the inner and outer bulbs 11 and 12 may be varied in accordance with specific design conditions.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that an arcuate portion of the opposed walls of the outer bag 12 is in contact with adjacent opposite wall portions of the inner bulb 11. With this construction it will be noted that the inner bulb 11 can be manually flexed as well as the outer bag 12. a

As illustrated, the outer end 14 of the inner bulb 11 is provided with a normally open ball check valve 18 which communicates with the interior of the bulb 11 with the atmosphere, or some other suitable source of fluid supply. The inner end 17 of the bulb has inserted therein a nipple 19 to which there is connected a normally closed valve means 20.

As seen in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 this valve means 20 consists of a closed end resilient sleeve or support 21 in which the open end is fitted over the nipple 19. Intermediate the ends of the sleeve 21 are opposed s'it openings 22. Since the sleeve 21 is formed of a resilient or flexible material and is closed at one end, the fluid in discharging from the inner bulb 11 is forced to pass outwardly through the slit openings 22.

In Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the tip end of the sleeve 21 converges inwardly to a point in horizontal section and diverges outwardly in vertical section.

The valve sleeve 21 extends to the vicinity of the discharge orifice opening and by thus blocking a portion thereof controls the size of the discharge orifice opening.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the conduit 16 is provided with a manua ly operable gate valve 23 which is adapted to be turned to permit the egress of low pressure fluid from the outer bag 12 to its ultimate receiver.

The operation of the dilator when, for example, the fluid is constituted of the atmosphere itself, is as follows:

While the instrument is at rest or in equilibrium, the ball check valve 18 is open to the atmosphere and the flutter valve 22 is closed. At this time the inner bulb 11 is charged with air at atmospheric pressure. To discharge the air from the bulb 11, the opposed wall portions thereof are squeezed, and in thus flexing the walls the pressure within the bulb 11 is increased causing the back pressure to close check valve 18 and the flutter valve to open thereby permitting the air in bulb 11 to expand into the outer bag 12. In doing so the pressure of the air expanding into the outer bag is substantially reduced. The elasticity of the inner bulb 11 returns the flexed walls to original position followed by the closing of the flutter valve 22 and the opening of the check valve 18 permitting the bulb to be recharged with air at atmospheric pressure. Upon entering the outer bag 12, the air is d spersed over a much larger area. The pressure is therefore greatly reduced. For dilating the u'timate receiver, gate valve 23 is opened whereupon the air in the bag 12 escapes through the discharge conduit 16. This conduit 16 is connected in any suitable manner to the final receiver of the air, and the receiver is slowly and gently dilated. While obviously the dilator of the present invention has many uses, its function of inflating human tissues is particularly noteworthy. Inasmuch as human tissue when exposed to relatively large pressure diiferentials is likely to be subjected to damage and pain, the present device is rendered especially useful as a means of dilating hollow tissues such as the sigmoid colon and other viscera. This is because, the present device allows the various body organs to be dilated gently and gradually with a substantially constant low pressure fluid with a minimum of pressure differential. Thus the probability of pain and damage to the delicate tissues is greatly re' duced.

Variations and modifications may be made without de' parting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A handpowered device for providing a substantially constant and controllable flow of low pressure compressible fluid comprising a squeezable bulb construction including flexible inner and outer bulbs, saidinner bulb being positioned in said outer bulb and having opposite wall portions thereof in contact with opposed wall portions of said outer bulb whereby when pressure is applied to said outer bulb at that portion thereof in contact with said inner bulb, said pressure will be transmitted to said inner bulb for the squeezing thereof, said. inner bulb having valved means opening to an external source of fluid supply and valved means opening to the interior of said outer bulb; and means comprising a fluid line connected to said outer bulb, through which fluid may discharge from the outer bulb, said outer bulb being constituted of airelatively thin membrane of elastic material and being distensible and expanded in response to the introduction of fluid therein under pressure by the inner bulb whereby the said fluid may be discharged through said fluid line by the force exerted on it by said outer bulb in returning to its non-stretched condition.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said outer bulb has an arcuate portion of its opposed walls in touching relationship with an opposed arcuate wall portion of said inner bulb, so that a force applied to the outer bulb at the point of contact of the bulbs permits squeezing said inner bulb to discharge the fluid therefrom without materially affecting the fluid space of said outer bulb.

3. A means for providing a substantially constant and controllable flow of a low pressure compressed fluid comprising a squeezable bulb construction including flexible inner and outer bulbs, said inner bulb having a passage and a normally open check valve in said passage at one end thereof in communication with a source of fluid, and having a second passage and a normally closed valve at the other end thereof, said normally closed valve when rendered operative opening into said outer bulb, said bulbs being formed of a resilient and flexible material and being arranged so that the opposite wall portions of said inner bulb are in contact with the opposed wall portions of said outer bulb, whereby when pressure is applied to that portion of the outer bulb in contact with the inner bulb for the squeezing of the inner bulb, the inner bulb closes said open check valve and forces the fluid from the inner bulb through the normally closed valve and into the said outer bulb whereby the fluid is reduced in pressure, and means comprising a fluid line for directing the fluid from said outer bulb to a point of use at substantially said reduced pressure, said outer bulb being constituted of a relatively thin membrane of elastic material and being distensible and expanded in response to the introduction of fluid therein under pres sure by the inner bulb whereby the said fluid may be discharged through said fluid line by the force exerted on it by said outer bulb in returning to its nonstretched condition.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which there is a manually operable control valve in the said fluid line at a point adjacent the outer bulb, to control the fluid discharge through said line as effected by the force exerted by the outer bulb.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the two valved means of the inner bulb are connected with opposite portions of the outer bulb to efiect a support of the inner bulb within the outer.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5, in which the valved means opening to the interior of the outer bulb includes a support engaged with the said fluid line and constituting a control of the discharge opening therethrough.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6, in which the support comprises a slitted tube having a closed end which engages the fluid line, the slitted portion of said tube constituting a check valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,722,377 Kaplan July 30, 1929 2,068,134 Houghton Jan. 19, 1937 2,698,028

Lee et a1 Dec. 28, 1954- 

